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Simmy Sekhon, solicitor and spokesperson of the Yorkshire Sikh Forum, reflects on integrity in business, to celebrate 55 years of Prayer for the Day from Bradford, the City of Culture.

Good Morning.

In the Sikh faith, there is a guiding principle: Naam Japna, Kirat Karni, Vand Chakna, which means – remember God, earn an honest living, and share with others. These words have stayed with me, from the fields of Punjab to the boardrooms of Yorkshire.

A solicitor, property entrepreneur, and developer, overseeing 51 companies, can seem worlds apart from quiet humility of Sikh spirituality. But for me, they are connected. Sikhism teaches us that business isn’t just about profit – it’s about purpose, service, and justice.

It’s important to me to share my moment of prayer with my dear friend Cami Sowdi, who calls me every morning, from the rolling mountains of Catalonia, this start of the day, with prayer, and positive focus, grounds me before a busy and hectic day.

Every deal I make, every decision I weigh, I carry with me the wisdom of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, who taught, that wealth must not come at the cost of dignity of others. Staying grounded in these values is my daily prayer – especially in a fast-paced world that often rewards speed over integrity.

There’s strength in staying rooted. I live and work in England, my heart beats with the rhythm of Punjab – its language, its music, and its spirit. And in that balance, between two worlds, I find peace.

Today, I pray, for all who lead in business, in community, in family. May we lead with compassion and love. May we build equity with integrity, may we remember that our actions echo beyond balance sheets, and that success without soul is empty.